Motor-sled.



No. 881,388. PATENTEDMAR. 1o, 1908.

W; PQ EAsTWooD. MOTOR sLED.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 27. 1907'.

s SHEETS-sum1* z`.

lll@

4top plan view t ereof.

WILLIAM P. EASTWOOD, OF HAILEY, IDAHO.

MOTOR-SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Paterited March 1o, 1908.

Application filed May 27, 1907. Serial No. 375,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. EAST- wooD, citizen of the-United States, residing at Hailey, in the county of Blaine and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to conveyances mounted upon runners and designed to be propelled overa slippery surface, such as ice and snow, the purpose being to provide a novel structure and to combine therewith unique propelling means under control of the operator both for steering and for stopping and starting, without necessitating throwingy the engine out of gear or bringing the same to rest. i

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings. 4

While the invention maybe adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, .in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor sled embodyin the invention. Fig. 2 is a Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line of Fi 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of t e brake.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views o the drawings by the same reference characters.

The conveyance embodies two sleds having a tandem arrangement and coupled to.

admit of relative independent vertical and lateral play while at the same time permitting the front sled to be deflected for purposes of steering. The front sled is preferably provided with the propellin and steerin means, whereas the rear s ed is utilize forE carrying passengers. The sleds are of similar construction, each comprising runners 1, upper longitudinal members 2 and transverse connecting pieces 3 ,which may consist either of bars, plates or rods. The rear sled is provided with a seat 4which is mounted u on standards 5. For coupling the two s eds a rod 6 is journaled at its ends to the upper front portions of the runners, and a stub pole 7 extends forwardly therefrom at a central point and is stayed by means of braces 8. Coupling means unite the front end of the ole 7 with the rearcross piece of the front s ed and is of such formation as to admit of relative play between the sleds without causing strain or interference.

The brake mechanism is mounted upon the rear sled and consists of levers 9 which 4are fulcrumed intermediate of their ends at 1() to the runners'and which have their front ends connected by means of links 11 to crank arms 12 at the ends of a rock shaft 13, said rock shaft having an arm 14 which is connected by means of a rod 15 with an operating lever 16 which is conveniently located to be'pressed upon by the foot of the operator to set the brakes when required. The levers 9 are provided at their rear ends with hooks 17 which extend in the rear of. the runners 1 and are adapted to be brought into forcible engagement with the surface over which the conveyance or sled may be propelled. The rock shaft 13 'is mounted in bearings applied to the longitudinal pieces 2 and 1s located at the rear of the sled so as to be out of the way.

rlhe engine 17a for propelling the sled may be of any type commonly employed for driv ing machinery and particularly adapted f or locomotives. The engine shaft 18 is provided with a sprocket pinion 19 which is connected by means of sprocket chain 2O with a sprocket wheel 21 fast to any of the propeller shafts 22. The engine and pro eller are mounted upon the front sled. andle bars 23 are pivoted intermediate of their ends to standards 24 and are connected at 25. Thefront ends of the handle bars carry the pro eller and are provided with bearings in whic a propeller shaft 22 is journaled. When the upper rear ends of the handle bars are de ressed, the propeller is elevated, hence t e conveyance or sled may be brought toy a standstill without either stopping the engine or applying the brakes. When the rear ends of the handle bars are de ressed, they are held lowered by means of a ook 26 loosely connected to the frame of the rear sled and adapted to engage over the cross bar 25. The handle bars, besides serving t-o throw the propeller into and out of operative position, are also em loyed for steering the sled by moving the fpfont sled either to the ythe conveyance.

right or to the left as may be required according to the direction to be traveled. Standards 27 project upwardly from the outer rear corners of the front sled -and are adapted to engage with the inner sides of the handle bars to limit their movement and insure proper deiiection of the front sled When the handle bars are moved laterally to steer the conveyance. The standards 27 are braced by means of stays 28.

It will be understood that the handle bars have in effect two points of contact, the one with the standards 24 `and Athe other with the standards 27, and these points are separated sofasto insure a irm bracing of the handle bars .when subjected to lateral stress. The standards 27 admit of the rear ends of the handle bars being moved up and down to throw the propellervinto and out of working position. The propeller is of the paddle type and comprises slats and end supports. Each endsupport consists of a hub 29, arms 30 and braces 3l between thearms and connecting the same near their outer ends. The slats or paddles 32 are'firmly secured at their ends to the arms 30 .and are'adapted to engage with snowso as to insure ositive movement of In t e event of the surface being ice, theprojecting` ends of the arms 30 will usually be found sufficient to insure proper propulsion of the conveyance.

`From the foregoing it will be understood thatthe conveyance involves a simple constructionand one that admits of the same being undercontrol at all times and which may be started 0r quickly stopped without having recourse to the brake mechanism proper.` and which may be steered or have its speed regulated without the intervention of complexmechanisms.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A conveyance embodying front and rear sleds or trucks having a tandem arrange# ment and coupled. to admit of relative independent movement, a propeller :mounted upon the front sled or truck, handle bars having the propeller mounted thereon and extended within convenient reach of the operator mounted upon the rear truck and adapted to be manipulated for starting the. conveyance and to admit of throwing the propeller into and out of action.

2. In combination, sleds or trucks having a tandem arrangementl and coupled to admit of relative independent movement, a propeller, handle bars pivotally mounted intermediate of their ends upon the front sled or truck and extended within convenient reach of the operator upon the rear truck and hav ing said propeller carried thereby at their front ends, and standards projected. upward from the front truck and adapted to engage. with the handle bars to brace the same laterally against horizontal stress when exerted to steer the conveyance.

3. In combination, two sleds or trucks having a tandem arrangement and coupled to have limited independent movement, the rear sled or truck adapted to carry the operator, an engine and propeller mounted upon the front truck, connecting means between the propeller and engine, pivoted. handle bars carrying the propeller and extended within convenient reach of the operator upon the. rear sled, and standards projected upward from the rear portion of the front truck and adapted to engage with the handle bars to sustain lateral stress and admit olE proper steering of the conveyance.

In testimony whereof I a'llx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM l. EASTWOOD. Witnesses IV. A. HOLLAND, HENRY R. PLUon'orF. 

